U.S. Counters Iraq's Increased Aggression

By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service
27 January 1999
WASHINGTON -- The United States is meeting Iraq's increased
aggression head-on and will continue to do so as long as it
lasts, according to Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon.
"Iraq is mounting a very aggressive, determined, day-in-
and-day-out attack against the planes patrolling the no-fly
zone," Bacon said here Jan. 26. The United States is
"responding appropriately" to that higher threat level in
its continuing effort to enforce the U.N.-mandated no-fly
zones, he said.
U.S. pilots have "adequate authority" to protect themselves
and their missions, Bacon said. President Clinton expanded
that authority recently at the request of Marine Gen.
Anthony C. Zinni, commander of U.S. Central Command and
Operation Southern Watch, he added.
Bacon would not detail the rules of engagement, but
stressed the United States and its coalition partners
firmly intend to enforce the no-fly zones. "We are
determined to do so in a way that protects our pilots ... and
prevents Saddam Hussein from organizing his troops to
attack his neighbors or his own people," he said.
Since the coalition's Desert Fox bombing operation in late
December, Iraq has intensified its defiance of the no-fly
zones, declaring them invalid. More than 100 Iraqi planes
have violated the zones, and Iraqi forces have attacked
coalition planes with anti-aircraft missiles and guns. The
United States has responded in kind, striking missile sites
and radar systems in both northern and southern Iraq.
Along with aircraft incursions, the Iraqis have positioned
more anti-aircraft missiles and other air defense assets in
the no-fly zones, Bacon said. This violates the 1991 U.N.-
Iraq Gulf War cease-fire agreement. He noted U.S. planes
previously ignored Iraqi missile sites in the zones because
they did not challenge coalition patrols -- but now that
they do, the United States is striking back.
"Our goal is to be able to execute the patrols over the no-
fly zones without threats from Iraq," Bacon said. "This is
a choice for Saddam Hussein to make. So far, he is
suffering losses on a daily basis. If he chooses to
continue suffering those losses, we will continue to
inflict those losses on him. ... As long as he continues to
threaten and attack our planes, we will respond.
"If he wants to honor the no-fly zone and return to his
previous status of not attacking our planes, we will be
pleased and we will see that as a sign of good sense on his
part."
U.S. and coalition pilots of operations Southern and
Northern Watch have flown about 200,000 patrol sorties to
enforce no-fly zones over Iraq north of the 36th parallel
and south of the 33rd parallel. The zones, created after
the Gulf War, were mandated by U.N. Security Council
Resolutions 678, 687, and 688 to deter Iraq's use of
aircraft against its people and its neighbors.
Related Site of Interest
DoD News Briefing, Tuesday, January 26, 1999